Guests: 23 Rotarians were joined by guests Melissa Halliwell, Youth Exchange student Giogio Pezzotti from Italy, Jessica Cole, Connor Piper-Merritt and guest speaker Don Wilson from Dos Corrientes
Don Wilson from Dos Corrientes
Program
Jeff Kleven introduced the guest speaker, Don Wilson a former Rotarian and the founder of the NGO, Dos Corrientes together with his wife Heather Rose which our club supported with 2 grants. Located in Liquiqui, Ecuador, Dos Corrientes is a model for poverty alleviation. The first gift from our club funded the construction of the Greenhouse. Don showed several videos depicting how students are taught about growing and selling produce and sustainable agriculture. They also created a course for Fraser Valley University in B.C. beyond theory. Unfortunately drugs, guns and violence increased in Ecuador making it unsafe for the staff and students. The second grant from our club supported the security system installation. Future plans include a medical clinic with interns from Canada as well as research into bringing water from the rainforest to Liququi as they have not had a water source for 2 years and rely on bottled water. They supported a student named Natalya who is the first from the area accepted into a professional post-secondary program. For more information you can email Don@doscorrientes.com
Michael Owoleso thanked the speaker and then Paul Durnan gave a presentation and shared memorabilia for Remembrance Day.
Paul Durnan displays a towel with WW 2 aircraft
Items of Interest
Jeff reported on last year's RibFest and said they are considering an entrance fee for this year. He made a motion to hold RibFest again in 2026 and it was seconded by Nick Brown and the motion passed unanimously by those in attendance. Jeff also announced that we will be using an old fashioned fire truck in the Santa Claus parade and he will be sending an email asking for volunteers who want to ride on it or walk with Buckee.
Pete Ronalds announced that there will be tap day at Canadian Tire in Waterdown to raise funds for the Santa Claus Parade on November 15th and asked for volunteers for the morning after the parade to help with cleanup November 30th at 7:30 am.
Diandra Camilleri asked for support for the Healthy Youth empowerment breakfast with a donation of $2000 which was seconded by George Tadross and for donations to the Women's Resource Centre/Interval House for grocery gift cards worth $1500 seconded by Margot Rae and for $1000 for art supplies for the program assisting with healing from trauma seconded by Michael Collette. These were passed unanimously.
Karen Matthews announced that the Breakfast with Santa in support of Food4Kids will be on Saturday, November 22nd from 8-11 am and volunteers are needed at 7 am to help set up. She also mentioned that the lights in Memorial park will cost between $3000-$5000 to be done by a service. Margot said she will take this on again this year with some helpers.
President Kevin Smoke thanked those that responded to his email about committee involvement and reminded those that have not yet responded to do so asap.
Don talking about the greenhouse in Ecuador
Sgt. at Arms - Amber Kosubovich
Happy $ - Birthdays/Anniversaries/Good news
Due to time constraint we only did one happy buck
Kim Piper was was happy that Connor's volleyball team won the city championship just before the meeting and he was wearing his medal.
50/50 draw Nick Brown won the draw and picked the 6 of Diamonds
