At 12:03 President Al Hoeft stopped the chatter and called us to order which set the stage for a good time of sharing, learning and being energized, or maybe re-energized, about the importance of being together as members of Rotary. Following President Al's welcome of members and visitors, he shared our Land Acknowledgement statement, invited Happy Dollar sharing opportunities and then called on Gail Bradley for a Rotary Foundation Minute. Gail focused on the place and the impact Rotary Action Groups (RAG's) have in the lives of Rotarians involved and in the people they touch by their involvement and service. Rotary Action Groups provide grants to Clubs undertaking international projects in areas including Education & Literacy, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Maternal and Child Health and the other Areas of Focus.
President Al called on Jeanne Alexander to introduce our Guest Speaker. Jeanne shared some of the following on Colleen Strauch, Director of the Non-profit and Voluntary Sector Studies Network (NVSSN) at Luther College at the University of Regina. Her work centers on supporting a thriving non-profit and voluntary sector through learning, research, and innovation. Colleen has worked and volunteered in the non-profit sector both in Regina and internationally and is enthusiastic about contributing to learning and growth in our community. She has been a volunteer with the Terry Fox Foundation, the Regina Open Door Society, RaiseHer, and has served a board member of the Saskatchewan Career Development Association. Colleen is currently a PhD student at the University of Regina.
Using Power Point Slides, Colleen shared the Vision and Mission of Luther College which set the stage for encouraging, "..... students to be compassionate, creative and critical thinkers through academic excellence and community care that is rooted in our call to love and serve our neighbors.” Based on the foundation of Servant Leadership, the focus is to serve, focusing on the needs of the community, through ethical leadership to benefit the organizations involved with the NVSSN and Luther College, reflecting on established values with commitment to learning. In working toward their Vision they focus on three steps - Learning - Research - Innovation.
The NVSSN's NSLI Certificate is available to all students at the U of R and provides a way into volunteering in or working for a non-profit organization. Colleen shared the comments of a couple students who participated in the program with comments like," The Certificate program has been a game-changer shaping my perspective in the non-profit sector and equipped me with essentials skill set for my career". Another graduate said, "I've been able to take what I learned and put it towards my community focused work.” These observation are shared because "service-learning" has students working in partnership with community based organizations where knowledge is achieved in a disciplinary community setting.
Colleen also had us look at the UN's seventeen Sustainable Development Goals and graphed how these challenges become part of three tiers, The base which serves as the Biosphere consists of 4 Goals; followed by Society which has 8 Goals, followed by the Economy which has 4 Goals, with the 17th Goal being Partnership which connects all the Goals and therein is our future success.
Colleen Strauch, thank you for your presentation and more specifically for the important leadership you provide to students as they weigh the career opportunities in the Non-profit world.
Guest Speaker Colleen Strauch
RI Convention Spotlights
Fourth Program of Scale
By Etelka Lehoczky and John M. Cunningham
Rotary International’s fourth Programs of Scale grant will support members' work with Indian farmers who have been affected by climate change. Barry Rassin, chair of The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees, announced the US$2 million grant at the 2024 Rotary International Convention in Singapore.
The program, Partners for Water Access and Better Harvests in India, will aim to increase groundwater tables, extend cultivation areas, and raise the incomes of about 60,000 farmers by 25% to 30%.
“Farmers in India are responsible for producing much of the world’s wheat, rice, and other food staples. But the groundwater these farmers depend on is vanishing. Climate change is making rainfall more erratic, which leads to drought,” Rassin said. “We are working with Indian farmers on a five-year program to plant the seeds for sustainable farming in India for generations to come.”
Herbert G. "Herb" Brown (photo on left), the 1995-96 president of Rotary International, who met with world leaders to advocate for polio vaccination and helped raise millions of dollars to fight the disease, died on 23 April at age 100.
Sam Berg, Chair of our Club's Community Service Committee, was at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Regina Branch this morning and presented Shannon Patton, Interim ED of the CMHA-Regina Branch, with Regina Eastview's cheque for $5,000.00.
Shannon Patton with Sam Berg
FELLOWSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
President put out a call for Happy Dollars - obviously members were ready and this is what happened;
Sam Berg spoke of his visit to the CMHA Regina Branch this morning. The cheque presentation completes our Club's commitment of $25,000 over five years in support of their capital funds campaign to rejuvenate their building. Their total need is over $1 million to do everything that the building needs.
Shannon Patton was happy to report the first priority, windows, has been completed;
Jeanne Alexander was excited to tell us of the Seniors Conference she attended which focused on Social Prescribing with Rod McKendrick;
Toshi Shinmura was back from a wonderful holiday in Japan, where he reconnected with people of his youth, and having not seen some for 50 or so years, recognition was a challenge;
Doug Mortin told us he and Leslie attended the RC of Saskatoon Meewasin Steak and Lobster Dinner, which was not only delightful, but is a good fund raiser for the Club;
Peter Neufeldt was happy to see Lisa Peters at our meeting;
Great meeting everyone - I would like to see you on Monday as the Regina Club hosts our Joint Meeting;
Have a safe spring weekend.
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"Blessed are they who have the gift of making friends, for it is one of God's best gifts. It involves many things, but above all, the power of going out of one's self and appreciating whatever is noble and loving in another."
Thomas Hughes
Today's guests
It was great to have Guest Speaker Colleen Strauch with us today. In addition we welcomed visiting Rotarian Bob Durston from Neepawa, and former Eastviewians Terry Craig and Lisa Peters
Next Meeting Responsibilities
June 13, 2024
HOST: Hans Gaastra
MODERATOR: President Al Hoeft
Past RI President Herb Brown
RI 1995-1996 Theme
Act with Integrity, Serve with Love, Work for Peace
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