Rotary Club Minutes of Meeting
December 1, 2021
Prepared by Alison Scott
Rotary Land Acknowledgment
We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we live and work today is the land traditionally used by the Hoaudenosaunee, Anishnaabe and Neutral people. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws and philosphies of the Indigenous people with whom we share this land today.
According to the City of
Waterloo, Ontario, the indigenous people who lived in the area in the pre-historic era included the Neutral Nation.
[14] In 2020, a site in nearby
Kitchener, Ontario was found to include artifacts from an Iroquioan village that was inhabited circa 1300 to 1600. Archeologists found some 35,000 objects including stone tools and a 4,000 year old arrowhead.
[15] Another source states that the site "is among a cluster of Attawandaron villages in this part of the region".
[16] In 1976, a Neutral Nation cemetery was unearthed in
Grimsby, Ontario.
[17] The area that now comprises Morriston in
Puslinch, Ontario is said to have been inhabited by the Neutral Nation, in a village of 4,000.
[18] This region may have had the largest Neutral Nation settlement in Ontario, at one time.
Announcements
- Reminder that today is the last day to buy your Catch the Ace tickets for this week’s draw.
- Upcoming Meetings:
- December 8th: Regular in Person lunch meeting with Guest speaker
- December 15th: AGM meeting at regular lunch meeting
- December 22 and 29th: No meetings over the holiday season
- January 2nd: Hogmanay Fellowship Open House at Alison Scott’s
- January 19th: the regular lunch meeting will be cancelled and in lieu we will have an Evening Meeting on January 18th at the Edelweiss Restaurant. This is a joint meeting with the Kitchener Sports Association. The National Sledge Hockey Team will join us
3. Michelle is organizing a Holiday Celebration for our club for the end of January. Stay tuned for more details.
4. Karin Voisin advised club members that Klara and Maria will offer booster vaccines to those members who qualify at their pharmacies.
5. Bill Pegg has secured an extra Bingo session for Friday December 10th at 11:30 and is looking for a volunteer to join him.
Guests of Members:
Shinjita Alam was invited by Alexandar Pavlov as a new prospective member.
Celebrations:
Larry Masseo celebrates a birthday this week. Alex Pavlov and his wife Judith Oudejans celebrated their 25 yr wedding anniversary.
Bob Kieswetter celebrates his 19th club anniversary and Jim Evans celebrates 28 yrs!
50/50 Draw
The Jackpot continues to grow! Today’s pot was $178.
John Rose, John Vickery and Alison Scott did not find the black marble.
Guest Speaker:
Alison Scott welcomed Dr. Ajay Singh.
Dr. Ajay Singh is a Scientist, and Co-founder & Technical Director of Lystek International, Cambridge. Dr. Singh is an Environmental Microbiologist with over 30 years of experience in designing and implementing biological processes for wastewater, fermentation, food and bioremediation industries, and has managed numerous full-scale operating projects internationally.
He has co-authored and edited 10 books and published over 200 papers in the areas of Environmental Biotechnology and Bio-resource management. He holds 17 international patents. Dr. Singh is an Adjunct Faculty member at the University of Waterloo. Fellow of International Biological and Agricultural Academies, and Committee Member of Water & Environment Associations.
Dr. Singh told the story of Lystek International, which grew out of an initiative of 2 microbiologists and the University of Waterloo. Listek received its first patent in 2003 to reutilize organic waste to create carbon energy and biofertilizer products. Supported by research grants and a few private local investors, the company grew into an international company with 8 facilities in Canada and several international facilities in the United States and Asia.
Lystek developed a proof of concept to convert food waste and biosolids from wastewater into a bio fertilizer product that is more efficient and cost effective than other fertilizers. Dr. Singh provided some graphic details about the bioremediation process- think chocolate smoothie in a blender- much to the dismay of Paul Puopolo and Mac Graham. The organic product uses less energy to produce and is in high demand with farmers because of the positive results.
This is a great local success story for our Region.
Dr. Singh was thanked by Paul Puopolo.
Meeting was adjourned at 1:15.
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