President Jayna Amadasun called the first 2026 meeting of the Rotary Club of Regina Eastview to order at 12:03, extending a warm welcome to members, guests, visiting Rotarians. In keeping with established protocol, President Jayna reminded attendees of our part, and commitment to the Treaties created with our welcoming residents of this land Canada, by sharing our Land Acknowledgement statement.
Following consultation with Jeanne Alexander, our Club's dedicated program arranger, President Jayna, introduced Guest Speaker Baylee Munro. Baylee Munro is the Head Coach and General Manager of the Regina Optimist Dolphin Swim Team (RODS), as well as Head Coach of the University of Regina Cougars. Baylee has been in this role since 2023. He is a Chartered Professional Coach with Swimming Canada's highest levels of certification, and has guided RODS athletes to U SPORTS Nationals, Canadian Trials, Canada Games, and even the Olympic stage.
In his presentation Baylee shared examples of young people whose commitment to competitive swimming set the stage for developing life skills in self-confidence and leadership. The power of sport is not only about competition but it is about self-improvement and growing as a team. Being part of a Team provides incentive of self-improvement.
RODS had its formal start in 1972 with parent volunteers and a commitment to develop each person to their highest level of excellence in the sport. Baylee used Mitch Brough and Summer McIntosh as examples of persons who have excelled in the pool and have consistently served as examples of leadership inspiration. Swimming is a great sport because it is fun, it is healthy, and it is safe. It teaches important ideas like mindset growth, based on Henry Ford's committed approach to life, "If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you are right". It is the whole notion and commitment to doing what you love, and being challenged by competition is a good thing. Competitive organized swimming teaches youth about time management and leadership. There is a "magic" to the commitment to swimming, a magic that relates to life itself. To lead you must know yourself, your peers and the environment in which you function as a team.
Baylee spoke about Transformational Leadership via "the 4 I's" -i) Idealized Influence - being a role model; ii) Inspirational Motivation - Live a Vision; iii) Intellectual Stimulation - Be Creative; and iv) Individual consideration - Be a Coach". He spoke about creating a definitive way to lead because leadership is a choice and one needs to create goals, roles, interpersonal relationships and procedures. It is critical to celebrate achievement.
Baylee's closing counsel was if you have a child, or grandchild, who is set to be a swimming wonder please serve as an encourager.
Thank you Baylee Munro for sharing your exciting pool perspective.
