This Rotor can also be found on the FRONT PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE,
on the right side (where it used to be).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Al announced that next week will be a zoom business meeting.
October 24 is the dinner Toshi and Linda are planning. 37 people have registered. Please e-transfer your money to the treasurer@eastviewrotary.org. All proceeds will go to Polio Plus in recognition of World Polio Day.
October 26 will be an in-person meeting with Eastview hosting at the Delta with speaker William Schroder, author of Trees Against the Wind--the Birth of Prairie Shelterbelts.
Following the meeting welcome by President Al and the land acknowledgement, Sam Berg introduced guest speaker, Danielle Cameron. Danielle is someone with a lot of personal experience when it comes to mental health. She has many diagnoses and has decided to use her experiences to give hope and love to others who may need it. She is an advocate for many issues including harm reduction, suicide awareness and ending homelessness, among many more. She started her journey at Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) as the vocational program coordinator at CMHA Weyburn before moving to be with her husband and joining the HOPE Learning Centre here in Regina. Sam indicated it was good to have Danielle here at this time as October 10, World Mental Health Day has just past and mental health is a primary focus for RI President McInally in this Rotary year.
Danielle spoke about the tragedy of deaths due to drug overdose. Drug addiciton is a medical condition. The leading drug causing death is Fentanyl. Overdose and deaths are higher in Regina than Saskatoon and since July in 2023 there have been 84 deaths in Regina. Harm reduction is beginning here in Saskatchewan but safe injection sites have not yet been approved. Decriminalizing drugs has moved funds away from law enforcement to education, finding jobs and housing. The law focuses on drug dealers and makers. In Portugal where there is decriminalization of all substances, the result is fewer homeless people and less crime. British Columbia has started a trial on decriminalization of drugs.
In Saskatchewan there is higher use of fentanyl and crystal meth (which contains the drug, ephedrine easily obtained in health supplement stores, along with battery acid, oven cleaner and other products that are toxic to the human body). This drug is cheap and there is easy access. It is consumed by injection, ingestion, smoking inhalation. Immediately following use there is brain cell death, causing many adverse effects.
The task to turn this crisis around is huge. Credit goes to the professionals and many groups that advocate for those suffering from drug abuse. Thank you for speaking to us today, Danielle, and laying out the facts on this challenging health issue.
Danielle Cameron
A TIP OF THE EASTVIEW HAT TO JEANNE ALEXANDER
It came to my attention recently that Jeanne Alexander was awarded a trophy by Sask. Seniors Mechanism (SSM) Celebrating Seniors recognition award in Arts and Culture. In talking to Jeanne, she revealed she felt very honored and humble to receive this award. Jeanne has made major contributions to a host of organizations she has been involved in past and present. The list is long and includes the following: A member of Age Friendly Regina; Past President of the Senior Citizens’ Center; the Platinum Jubilee Queen’s Medal nominated by Sask. MLA Trent Wotherspoon; Past President of the Canadian Club; member of the Sask. Writers’ Guild; Director of the Gov’t House Historical Society (Communications); Director of the Rotary Club of Regina Eastview (Communications); President of Wascana Writers; A host and community producer of mini documentaries (about people, places and events) with Access Communications--It Matters and Writing in Saskatchewan; Long time host and programmer of Toast and Coffee on CJTR Radio; a number of other activities with SSM and the list goes on.
Congratulations Jeanne from the R.C. of Regina Eastview. We are glad you found your way to Eastview. Thank you for all you do for our club.
Jeanne Alexander on SSM award night
The Fire Rescue Truck purchased for Chernihiv, Ukraine.
The Family of Rotary
Sadly this week we heard that William Pryce Twist passed away in Portage Manitoba. He was Father to Cheryl, father-in-law to Jean-Marc Nadeau. Our condolences to Cheryl, Jean-Marc and family on your loss.
“Only a moment you stayed, but what an imprint your footprints have left on our hearts.” -Dorothy Ferguson
FELLOWSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
President Al called for happy bucks and there were a number: October Anniversaries: Vic and Dana celebrated their 3rd anniversary; Jessie and Gary celebrated their 62nd; Doug and Leslie celebrated their 56th. Congratulations to all.
Birthdays: Richard Schwan on Oct. 11 and Hans Gaastra on October 16. Happy Birthday to you both
Congratulations to Jeanne on her Sask. Seniors Mechanism Celebrating Seniors recognition award in Arts and Culture. Well done.
Thanksgiving: Peter and Margaret family home to celebrate Thanksgiving and join in a family picture.
and.....
President Al was happy to celebrate Thanksgiving with a visit from his brother, his children and grandchildren, 3 of whom Great Grandma met for the first time.
One only has to watch the world news to recognize how much we have to be thankful for. Have a good week.
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." ― Willie Nelson
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Some of you will have heard this story but I think it bears repeating.
Much damage had occurred to the city, Chernihiv in Northern Ukraine, making rescue of residents difficult from highrise buildings, highlighting the need for specialist rescue apparatus.
Following a series of initiatives starting with a worldwide appeal from the president of the Rotary Club of Kyiv to the Rotary community, and support from RI General Secretary John Hewko, himself a charter member of the Kyiv Club, a fire rescue truck with a 30 metre long extension ladder was identified to meet the need.
The R.C of Edinburgh answered the call and partnered with their counterparts in Washington State and British Columbia (District 5050) to deliver a Fire Rescue Truck to the city of Chernihiv. The fire truck was sourced from Austria but would cost $50,000 to purchase, upgrade and deliver to Ukraine.
Rotary International had established a Ukraine Disaster Fund to finance and source relief projects to support the citizens of Ukraine. Rotarians worldwide have raised in excess of $15 million for this fund, and grants of up to US$25,000 are available to Rotary Districts who create suitable projects. For this project the districts applied for and were approved the maximum grant of $25,000 to fund the $50,000 cost.
The Fire Rescue Truck was driven to Latvia then via Poland to the Ukranian border where a reception committee was waiting to make the final leg of the journey to the city of Chernihiv.
The Fire Rescue Truck was safely received by the Chernihiv Fire and Rescue Service within 5 months of the first idea of it and given a traditional hose down as a welcome. I think you would agree this demonstrates the Power of Rotarians and their Foundation.
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