Chairperson - Pierre Hoebers
O' Canada - lead by Brian Smith
Grace - by Cate Savage
Guests -
Our guest speaker - Sarah MacDonald
Our exchange students - Marie & Anja
Richard Chickoski, guest of Hope Chickoski
John Lindsay, guest of Kim Monette
Gary Caven, guest of Cate Savage
Lavina & Oakley White - guests of Leah White
Happy dollars
Garth Gordon - Attended the Rotary Leadership Training last weekend. Thought it was a marvelous program. Encouraged others to consider it in future. Very educational. Also mentioned that he District director's minutes are now posted on the District website for all to view. Other great resources found there a well.
John Lohr - Excited about his office re-location. Better visibility, and Martha has a much better working space. He is at 341 Main Street Kentville, beside the new Maritime Travel location.
Heather Lohr - Was in Holland visiting Sue & Joe. Had a great trip. Also, was asked to host Gordon Pinsent & his daughter while they were in the Valley for DEVOUR (Film & Food Festival).
Leah White - Happy to be here with her two amazing kids. This is Oakley first official meeting where he actually gets to have his own seat and have lunch off the menu.
Shelley Fleckenstein - Participated in some of the DEVOUR activities over the weekend. Great festival. And is excited about HALLOWEEN.
Brian Smith - Our strategic plan is now on the website for all to view. We will talk more in-depth on it in November.
Julie Sweet - Was away for three weeks to Hawaii and Australia. Had an amazing trip. Conference in Brisbane that was really great as well. Highlight - swimming with the sea turtles in Hawaii.
President & Secretary's report - given by Rod McMahon. Shelley sent her regrets from PEI due to family commitments. Rod was happy to have us at Applewood's for one of three meetings to be held here.
Illness - Hope Chickoski wanted to let us know of the passing of Phyllis Jarvis's Mom who had been ill for some time. Even though this is a difficult time for Phyllis and her family, her Mom had a great, long life, and lived at Riverside right up until her passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Phyllis and her family at this time.
Guest speaker - Brian Smith introduced our guest speaker, Sarah MacDonald. Sarah MacDonald works with the Kings County branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association, and she is involved with programs that support employment and food security here in the Valley.
Sarah talked to us about her SOUP and Community Garden Programs. She is very passionate about her work and the people she assists. Its all about providing healthy, local, and safe food. Sharing our "unappreciated produce" and distributing it to people and areas of need. Statistics show that we only eat 5% of our of vegetable produce that we grow. Garden beds under this program were first started at NSCC Kentville, and now they can be found in various locations in the valley. For example, there are now 13 beds found in the Berwick area (Berwick school, Spicer Park, Mill Street Community garden) whereby the produce is grown in the beds to help feed people that would not have an opportunity to consume these products. Kingston is another area at the Kingston Outreach Gardens where garden beds and a greenhouse will be coming there in the Fall.
Another element of her work is the SOUP program, which stands for Sharing Our Unappreciative Produce.
Louis Millett Centre in New Minas is one of the four kitchens in this program. These four kitchens serve 140 meals per week.
Many local organizations have lent a helping hand such as, Henny Penny's in New Minas for produce & storage, to TAP Roots farm, to Lone Pine Farm for storage, just to name a few.
They have a new partnership with FEED NS, FOUND (Gathering & Sharing Forgotten Food), to GLEAN (foods from the fields).
The MacDonald Museum in Middleton has a new Kale & Broccoli project in their amazing greenhouse there.
Great programs, great community service.
Pierre thanked Sarah for her informative talk and for her compassion in her work in helping so many people.
Committee reports -
VF - Randall - wanted to thank everyone who answered his email on the distribution feedback. And for those who helped with the distribution. It was a great "cost saving" effort. Well done !
Program committee - we are back at Rosie's next week where Al Mutch will lead us in a Remembrance Day program.
Chase the Ace - lucky ticket belonged to Elva - but no Ace - soooo it's a Roll Over!!
Thank you to our Scribe for this meeting - Mariam Cameron