This Rotor can also be found on the FRONT PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE,
on the right side (where it used to be).
Click to watch
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Peculiar place to start (at the end)! Today's meeting concluded with President Jack Wozniak expressing his thanks to members for supporting his walk as President. He acknowledged with gratitude the work of the Presidential Team (Jeff Barber, Pat Dell and Jean-Marc Nadeau) as they stick handled the challenges of COVID 19 in addition the routine of managing changes incorporated in the club's operation. Thank you President Jack for leading us in "Connecting The World";
On July 1, 2020 we begin the 2020-2021 Rotary year, and Jean-Marc Nadeau will be welcomed as Regina Eastview's President;
President Jack advised there was unanimous support from Club Members for Jean-Marc Nadeau's nomination as District Governor for District 5550 for the 2022-2023 Rotary year;
Thursday, July 2nd will be Jean-Marc's inaugural meeting as President, and members are encouraged to "ZOOM in" and be part of the welcome;
Our Club's Finance team will present and discuss the 2020-2021 Budget and all things financial; and,
Ralph Goodale's new e-mail address is: goodale.ipad@gmail.com
President Jack Wozniak invited Peter Peters to introduce Guest Speaker Greg Podmore from the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie, who introduced Regina Eastview to the Guatemala Literacy Project (GPL). Greg was invited to join the Grand Prairie Club in 1991 and served as the Club's President in 2000-2001. Four years later their Club became involved with the GLP and have maintained this involvement. Through GLP more than 600 clubs and 80 districts have been working together since 1997 to improve education for underserved students in Guatemala. Greg is a member of the Guatemala Literacy Project Advisory Board, and he and his wife, Karen have visited Guatemala on three different occasions.
Through his Power Point slides, Greg introduced us to this amazing and beautiful country and its' "polar opposites". A country where 80% of the people live in poverty, a challenge the GLP seeks to address "one child at a time". The project sees the best way to address poverty is through education. They initially started with the provision of text books for Middle School children (grades 7, 8 & 9), but their focus has shifted to include the needs of primary school children (K to grade 6). The project now also includes children in High School (Grades 10, 11 & 12). The project has assisted 225,000 children, and now 57,222 students benefit every day.
All the books provided are in Spanish, which requires that all the culturally oriented dialects must learn Spanish. This sustainable Project initially purchase books and each year they are "rented" to the student. After 5 years when the books need to be replaced, the resources are available for the purchase and use.
The provision of text books is now being supplemented by providing selected schools with computers, which has become an exceedingly exciting initiative for students. Familiarity with computers is found to be key for 60 % of Middle School graduates who are looking for a job.
(L to R) Karen Podmore, Brenda Chaz Lopez, Brenda's Mother, a Friend & Greg Podmore
In 2011 the Podmore's were supporting Brenda through high school, which was most exciting for her parents. Brenda is now studying law at the University and we could sense the proide in Greg's voice as he told us of this accomplishment. The Podmore's are now supporting Lesbia Chala who presented Greg with this picture when he visited the GLP in 2018.
Check out Greg's presentation on the above link - the meeting starts at 18 minutes into the video.
Lesbia Chala & Greg Podmore
World Refugee Day 2020
World Refugee Day 2020: united to stop COVID-19 - As many countries in the WHO European Region still struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, refugees and migrants are playing an important part in efforts to fight the coronavirus, supporting health systems and communities with their skills across the Region. For the rest of the story go to:
The Club's condolences are conveyed to Doug and Gloria Archer and their family on the passing of Gloria's sister Myrna Joan Knight;
Condolences are also extended to our newest member, Shawn (Oluwaseun) Laleye, who told us of his Mother-in-Law's passing last Sunday;
This is a difficult time for families and we want to keep them in our thoughts as our friends grieve and deal with their loss.
FELLOWSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Joyce Butler, a "Library frequenter" gave a 'shout out' to Jeff Barber, RPL Director, for taking important decisive steps to start opening City libraries in mid July;
Joyce also commended Dr. Saqib Shahab, Chief Medical Health Officer, for this interview comment when questioned about "opening Saskatchewan" protocol, "If it feels the way it used to be, you are not doing it right”;
Jeff Barber had Happy $, first to thank Joyce for the observation, and to acknowledge how happy they are to gear up for the Libraries re-opening;
Cory Daly was happy that today was his wife's last teaching day this year - they are going out for dinner this evening to celebrate the fact they can spend the next 2 months "together";
Jean-Marc Nadeau was triple happy - daughter Sarah attend her virtual Grade 12 Graduation; their 2 daughters have led in having the Indigo Girls’ newest branch (first in Manitoba), establlished in Winnipeg - check it out at:https://www.indigogirlsgroup.com/winnipeg; and he is honored to serve as President of Regina Eastview during the 2020-2021 year;
Greg McNamara was delighted to have his friend Bob, from Tillsonburg, join our meeting;
Gary Carlson was sending $40.00 to the Club for his commitment to the Sergeant's cause;
So ended today's meeting which concluded Regina Eastview's 2019-2020 year;
See you next week as we put aside, Rotary Connects The World, and raise the Rotary Opens Opportunities banner.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE ROTOR
Subscribe to our eBulletin and stay up to date on the latest news and events.
"I expect to pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there can be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again."
William Penn
Today's guests
Our visitors this week were all Rotarians, and included Guest Speaker, Greg Podmore, RC of Grande Prairie; Bob Durston, RC of Neepawa; and, Robert Oykroyd, RC of Tillsonburg, Ontario.
