Minutes of meeting
March 4, 2026
Past President Judy called the meeting to order at 12:15pm
Todd led us in O’ Canada
Judy led us in a toast to Canada and Rotary
Mac led us in Grace / Devotion
Announcements:
- No Birthdays or Anniversary’s this week
- Our club celebrates 45 years
- Founding members Chuck Thompson, Neil Aitcheson and Don Wilcox are still with our club Chuck was present today. Neil and Don has planned on coming but sent regrets.
- Fun facts:
- Our first fund raiser was Crown and Anchor 44 years ago.
- We first met at the Transylvania club
- Rotary Exchange student from 1992 Ylva Widgers from Sweden has kept in touch with Louise and Graham Gardiner and she returned to visit with her son Axel
- Food for kids fundraiser – See Julie for tickets 75% sold
- Rotaract St Patrick’s Day bottle drive March 18th, 2026 bring your bottles to the meeting.
- Ray Finnie reported back to the club on the success from the Coldest night walk . Our club had 22 walkers they raised $4300. (Target was $1500) Well done everyone! All proceeds for SHOW.
- 10 Volunteers for Indwell – Captained by John Thompson Thurs March 5 9am-12noon.
- Mac let everyone know that Rotarian Doug Fisher is doing well but has mobility issues so is unable to attend regular meetings.
Trivia:
- National Snack day
- National Pound cake day
- National Son’s day
- National Procrastination week
- National Chocolate Chip Cookie week
Guests:
Visiting Rotarian Louise Gardiner from the Kitchener Conestoga club
Former Rotary Exchange student Ylva Widgers, her son Axel Widgers
Guest Speaker Jennifer Astley and her father Bob Astley
50/50 pot $241 – Bob Astley, Ian Roberston , Bob Astley all drew the wrong the marbles so the pot will roll over to next meeting.
President Judy
Asked our former Rotary Exchange Student Guest Ylva to say a few words about her experiences being an exchange student.
Ylva was an exchange student from Sweden 1992 -1993 she was hosted by Rotarians Louise and Graham Gardiner and they have stayed in communication over thirty years. She thanked the club and the Gardiners for hosting her and for the friendship. She learnt a lot about Canada and discovered that it is different from the USA (She had thought they were the same). She brought her son Axel with her and she is hoping that he may get to be a Rotary Exchange student in the future.
Our guest speaker Jennifer Astley-Kinsey was introduced:
Jennifer spoke about her families foundation which was created in December 2005 by her father and mother, Bob and Judy and her brother Derek and her self.
They just celebrated 20 years of philanthropy (December 2025). Her father Bob Astley was the Past President of Sunlife Canada and he was also in attendance.
They worked with the Bank of Montreal to create a foundation to formalize the charity that their family had been doing. They chose a focus on Youth in the Waterloo Region
Jennifer noted that when they first started they did 2-3 Grants per year between $2-5K / Grant. Today their foundation does 20-23 Grants per year $25K-$50K / Grant. She noted that they have evolved as an organization and moved away from direct charity and into partnerships and collaborations with other organizations.
Jennifer gave some National statistics. Canadians donate $13.4Billion to Charity every year but noted that participation of Canadians in down from 68% to 54%. So less people are giving more and there is more demand every year.
She noted that there are complex problems, added strain, more competition, staff burnout with all Charities across Canada. Philanthropy is changing there is more mental health issues with youth. She noted the UNICEF youth impact survey as a resource. See link below.
Jennifer and her family started their foundation to help youth in the local community and notes that because they are small they remain agile and adaptable, the listen differently to the issues so that they can involve youth in the solutions. “Nothing for us, without us”
Julie thanked our speaker and presented her with the gift of Eyesight certificate.
Meeting adjourned at 1:35pm
