President Mahendra Shah called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

The announcements were as follows:

1) Michael Conway announced that we are doing the Electric Car Lottery Again. Two helpers are needed on the team. In addition, the Electric Lottery team has two charities picked to receive the funds, but we need two more. If you’d like to help with the car lottery or would like to nominate a charity to receive the funds, please reach out to Michael Conway.

2) Michael Conway announced that we need 2 more people to sit on the International Committee. The committee does some awesome work and does it with the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar, so it is a great way to meet Rotary members from another club.

3) Mike Henry announced that the Salvation Army Kettle Drive will take place on Sat. Dec. 2nd, 2023 from 10 am to 6 pm. Please respond to Mitch Sabsabi’s email if you’d like to volunteer. We need 16 volunteers for this event.

4) Baljit Toki announced that there will be a blood drive in Brampton in a few weeks. Please contact him for further details. 

5) Nancy Eichenberg announced that Mamalu, who runs the orphanage in Cameron that our club supported passed away. That orphanage looks after 58 children. Now, Mamalu’s daughter and son-in-law are running it and taking care of the children.

6) Members who are putting forward names for the Paul Harris Fellowship Awards are to send bios to Amin Kawar. Dinner is on January 30, 2024

7) The Rotary Youth Leadership Academy will take place from May 4th to May 7th 2024. If you know any final-year high school or university student or recent graduate from college/university who would be interested in attending, please submit their names to Mike Henry. There are two scholarships for this event available. Attendees must be 18 and up.

8) Mike Henry presented the Membership minute and stressed the need to get younger people from our group involved in the Youth Committee. Liaison with Interact, Rotaract clubs is important. 

9) Next meetings: The club assembly and AGM will take place on December 4th. The Christmas party is on December 18th. A choir will be the evening entertainment. 

 

Dinner was served.

 

Michael Conway skipped the fines but collected Happy Bucks. He asked for Happy Bucks that were out of the ordinary. Gary Comerford shared his initiatives in improving the financial record keeping and health of his church. Reena shared a story about how she reconnected with someone in her pre/postnatal class, which led to a reunion of many old friends.

 

Frank Morewood was given special recognition in the form of a crystal plaque and pins for being a TRF Donor Level 3. Thank you Frank!

 

Mahendra introduced our speaker Ami Gopal, Director of Development and Communications/Fundraising and Marketing at Water First

 

Water First partners with Indigenous communities to help resolve local water challenges through education and training. They have three programs: water internship, environmental water technical training, and school-based water science education workshops. They have worked in 82 Indigenous communities across Ontario and have graduated 46 drinking water interns so far. Their goal is to train youth to become certified water treatment plant operators.

 

RCO donated $30,000 to Water First so far and has contributed to 2 Water First Global Grants.

 

The talk was well received and there were many questions from the audience.

Bob Dodds and Rae Townsend asked if the program seeks partnerships with industry groups and other treatment facilities in bigger towns and cities. Reena Sandhu asked about the program's impact.

 

Nancy Eichenberg thanked Ami for her presentation and noted that this program is also important for providing employment opportunities for youth in Indigenous communities. 

 

President Mahendra proposed a toast to Friends and Rotarians around the World.