This Rotor can also be found on the FRONT PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE,
on the right side (where it used to be).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
April is Designated Environment Month by Rotary International
Apr. 2 - No Regina Eastview meeting.
Apr. 9 – Regular 12 noon Regina Eastview ZOOM meeting – join us to hear Guest Speaker PDG Eva Vida, President of The Rotary Foundation Canada.
Apr. 13 - In person 12 noon meeting at the Delta hosted by the RC of Regina.
Apr. 16 - 4:00 P.M. RC of Regina service opportunity at Souls Harbor.
Apr. 22 - Is Earth Day to protect the planet from things like pollution and deforestation
Apr 30 - 5-30 pm Regina Eastview’s Spring Fling Fundraiser at the Salvation Army location on 13th Avenue. More details will follow. If you have a collectible item for the Silent Auction let Allen Hillsden or President Jayna know.
May 23 - Cathedral Village Arts Festival opportunity - stay tuned we are hoping to have a Booth.
June 11 - 5:30 P.M. AI On The Prairie - Delta Hotel - Stay Informed. Stay Secure. Understand AI. Don't Fear it. - tell your friends and neighbours.
At 12:03 President gonged the ZOOM bell and thanked all persons on the call to the Rotary Club Regina Eastview meeting this 26th day of June 2026. In a new approach to "proceedings", Jayna called on Past President Al Hoeft to extend the Official Welcome to all and to share in the Club's Land Acknowledgement State-ment. It was as though, Al had practised all morning, he did the job and no one was surprised, after all he did this for 2 years. President Jayna resumed control and asked Gail Bradley to share Words of Wisdom, invited Happy Dollar expressions and then invited Jeanne Alexander to introduce Guest Speaker, Donna Woloshyn.
Jeanne suggested 'Literacy' was our Guest Speaker's life and passion for from her early work as a teacher in the Northwest Territories and northern Saskatchewan to her service as a senior civil servant, Donna Woloshyn has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to literacy and community service. She began her teaching career in northern Saskatchewan came to Regina in 1984, where she went on to serve as Senior Literacy Program Manager and Policy Analyst until her retirement in 2017. Retirement opened new opportunities to serve her community. She served as Chair of the Saskatchewan Book Awards (SBA) from 2019 to 2022, guiding the organization through a comprehensive review and strategic reorganization during the pandemic years. As the Executive Director, a volunteer position she has held since July 2022, Donna oversees the annual call for submissions and adjudication process and leads the planning and delivery of SBA events. In November 2024, Donna assumed the role of President of the Saskatchewan Literacy Network—an organization she helped found 35 years ago - and continues to play a leadership role in the non‑government sector and contributes to pan‑Canadian literacy initiatives.
From Donna Woloshyn we learned Saskatchewan Book Awards (SBA) recognizes, celebrates and rewards Saskatchewan writers and publisher excellence. SBA is about building greater awareness of Saskatchewan books through 14 unique awards, granted at an annual Awards Ceremony. The 14 awards consist of: Book of the Year; Regina Book; Indigenous Peoples’ Writing; Fiction; Saskatoon Book; Indigenous Peoples’ Publishing; Non-Fiction; First Book; Publishing in Education; Poetry; Children's Literature; Publishing; and, Scholarly Writing.
SBA is the only provincially-focused book awards program in Saskatchewan and a principal ambassador for Saskatchewan’s literary community. Its solid reputation for celebrating artistic excellence in style is recognized nationally. Submissions for the 2026 Saskatchewan Book Awards were accepted starting on September 2, 2025 and closed on November 7, 2025. The Literacy network extends to all corners of the Province in its search for excellence.
Award winners are determined through a jury process of the highest integrity, by high-calibre jurors, from across Canada. Selected Jurors are recognized as leaders with significant expertise in each award area. In order to ensure the integrity of its award adjudication process, the staff and board each year recruit members of the writing and publishing community outside Saskatchewan. Jurors are matched with their area of expertise. Jury members selected for adjudication will have up to 75 days to read titles submitted in their respective award categories and are expected to maintain confidentiality until the awards for each category are announced at the annual award ceremony. The SBA will arrange for jurors to meet by Zoom to select final shortlisted titles for consideration for prizes. Jurors will be able to keep the books reviewed; a small honorarium calculated to the number of books read will be provided.
We learned ten designated Family Literacy Hubs exist around the Province and these Hubs collaborate with school, libraries and communities to provide free, accessible literacy programs for families with children aged prenatal to six. The focus is on encouraging families to read together. Children who are part of a learning to read family find they transition to read to learn family which places children on solid platform.
Thank you, Donna Woloshyn, not only for your contribution to our day,
but more specifically for your leadership role in enriching
communities across Saskatchewan and beyond.
A TRF MOMENT
WITH GAIL BRADLEY:
Rotary Action Groups engage Rotarians, Rotar-actors and non-Rotarians by providing meaningful ways for them to use their skills to help clubs make a positive impact and by providing access to personal and professional opportunities beyond their club, district and country. In 2024-25 Rotary action groups engaged 31,698 Rotarians, 1,064 Rotaractors and 1,769 non-Rotary members. Eastview’s own Peter Peters serves in the WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Rotary Action Group and Peter Neufeldt in the Rotary Action Group For Peace.
Rotary Action Groups offered leadership opportunities to Rotarians, Rotaractors, Peace Fellows and others in 2024-25. 294 individuals were engaged representing 40 countries in leadership roles. 136 were women. 76 Rotary Foundation-funded projects were supported by Rotary Action groups.
More next time about the wonderful work Rotary Action Groups do to support districts, clubs and Foundation projects.
FELLOWSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Leo Ell, Honorary Member and now an Active member of Regina Eastview was at Rotary today.
In response to President Jayna's invitation to share a Happy Dollar, Peter Peters had Happy Dollars because Leo was at our meeting. Seems Leo and Peter joined Rotary in 1970 - Leo joined Regina Eastview in the spring of that year, and Peter joined the R C of Nipawin in November. It took Peter 12 years, and 3 Rotary Clubs before being welcomed into Regina Eastview and meeting the Elder Rotary Statesman.
Jeanne Alexander had happy dollars because on Tuesday she attended SGI Solstice Speaker series hosted by The Friends of the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, which featured conversations with the amazing Lisa LaFlamme, Creeson Agecoutay and Nelson Bird. There is much more to this story but one of the highlights noted by Jeanne was that refreshments were provided by Chilli For Children.
Have a great late winter week - be careful it could be slippery.
On March 19, 2026 Honorary Rotarian Ralph Goodale was at the meeting but was not photographed for the ROTOR. This photo was taken a month earlier and Ralph was made welcome by a wonderful table of visiting Rotarians from the RC of Regina.
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“A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.” Pope Francis
Today, Gail Bradley, in sharing the above Quote reminded us that many important people have been or are Rotarians. However, did you know
one such person is Pope Francis who made this observation This statement aligns with Rotary’s mission to foster understanding, goodwill and peace.
Today's guests
We were honoured today to welcome our Guest Speaker Donna Woloshyn. In addition Visiting Rotarians included Bob Durston from Neepawa, Brian Hardy, Carole Bryant, Doug Keam, Stewart Graham and Gilda Treleaven Graham all from the RC of Regina. Thank you for all choosing to enhance our time together.
Next Meeting Responsibilities
Our Next meeting is via ZOOM on April 9 when we welcome PDG Eva Vida.
Eva will enhance our under-standing of Rotary Foundation Canada and how it impacts what Rotary Clubs achieve through member support of our Foundation.
