This Rotor can also be found on the FRONT PAGE OF OUR WEBSITE,
on the right side (where it used to be).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Next week Denise Leduc is Regina Eastview's noon guest, telling us about a Saskatchewan organization "dedicated to bringing books into the homes of children through community partnerships"; and,
October 6th it will be an "in-person" meeting at the Delta Hotel (probably our former meeting room) , where the special feature will be the presentation of a Community Paul Harris Fellow Award;
3 meal options will be available - the Buffet ($30.) - Fruit Plate ($25.) - Grilled Cheese Sandwich ($20.);
Will need some volunteers to help set up the audio/video equipment, take the cash at the door (e-transfer is a great option: treasurer@eastviewrotary.org;
President Jeff is working to arrange an in-person Regina Eastview meeting on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month - to be confirmed;
Christmas Ham Sales (Eastview's fall fundraiser) is in place from now until October 30, 2022 - Supplier Drake Meats - Selling Price $35.00 for a tasty 2 kg ham - Goal is to sell 700 hams;
Thank you for helping to make this a Ham Selling Success.
President Jeff called on Jeanne Alexander to introduce our Guest Speaker, Cat Abenstein. Cat is the Program Coordinator, Saskatchewan Writers' Guild for the past 4 years. For 8 years until June 2022 Cat was also the spoken word Coordinator for the Creative City Centre where she organized Regina’s only spoken word Community, Regina Word Up.
In her indroductory comments, Cat noted one of the highlights in her career was the launching and coaching the Regina Word Up Youth Poetry Slam Team 3 times and taking the team to Toronto to participate in a spoken word festival called Voices of Today. She is passionate about connecting humans with writing and reading through a host of ways including books, programs, opportunities, community and mentorship.
So who is the Saskatchewan Writers Guild (SWG)? It was founded in 1969 and is a not-for-profit provincial cultural charity which represents writers. It fosters excellence in Saskatchewan writing and acts as an advocate for the provinces writers. The MISSION - The SWG serves, supports and champions diverse writers, cultivating a vibrant literary community.
One of Cat's most appreciated programs is the Author Reading Program, where participants meet an author or Story teller. Listen as they (authors) read from their work and feel enriched at its conclusion. Cat shared Stats from the author Reading Program which not surprisingly dipped during COVID, but has blossomed in the 2021-2022 year where 115 readings were approved (87 in person and 28 online) where the audience was 23, 329 persons. SWG hosts Community - Partnered Programs which involved the Regina Open Door Society Youth Programming (their Summer Blast Program). They also partnered with the Saskatoon Public Library youth workshops.
SWG also features a Youth Poet Laureate Program, which focuses on celebrating the spirit of the people and places of Saskatchewan through the literary arts; raises the profile of poets in the province; elevates writing as a vocation; and, raises awareness of the powere of poetry and the spoken word. Cat referenced a number of Youth Poet Laureates including Lauren Klassen a community based educator and poet living in Treaty 6 territory, who in 2022 is Saskatchewan's 4th Youth Poet Laureate.
Windscript is the SWG Annual Magazine of High School Writing and has been publishing the best of Saskatchewan Student's Literature since 1983. It demonstrates to students that they can be paid for their art as professional artists, and that there is the possibility of working in the arts. Since 1983, Windscript has published over 1500 up and coming writers and the most recent issue had 165 total pieces submitted and editor’s selected 27 pieces to be published.
Cat concluded her presentation by sharing some of their "wish list". This included the hope to increase the distribution of Windscript to include all members of SWG; the ability to reach more youth through their promotion; the ability to add student art to the magazine again; to continue to pay competitive professional rates; demonstrating to youth that art pays.
In the follow-up discussion Cat was encouraged in carrying on with her important work to remember while although not every child will become a professional writer, but through SWG Program participation they will become professional presenters, speakers, writers in their own right making them quality communicators in their chosen field.
Thank you, Cat Abenstein, for enhancing our day.
Guest Speaker, Cat Abenstein, SWG Program Coordinator
International Day of Peace
The Rotary Peace Centres September 2022 newsletter advised readers that, yesterday (September 21) was International Day of Peace. It sadly noted over, "70 million people are displaced as a result of conflict, violence, persecution and human rights violations. Half are children".
Rotary's foundational principle is "peace and world understanding" and in this regard, the newsletter provided the following details on how Rotarians advance this concept in our home communities and from there around the world.
Rotary’s Four Roles in Promoting Peace
Rotary and its members are:
Practitioners: Our work fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, improving the health of mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies directly builds the optimal conditions for peaceful societies.
Educators: Our Rotary Peace Centers have trained over 1,300 peace fellows to become effective catalysts for peace through careers in government, education, and international organizations.
Mediators: Our members have negotiated humanitarian ceasefires in areas of conflict to allow polio vaccinators to reach children who are at risk.
Advocates: Our members have an integral role as respected, impartial participants during peace processes and in post-conflict reconstruction. We focus on creating communities and convening groups that are connected, inclusive, and resilient.
The Family of Rotary
Fellowship makes the strength of the Rotary Family real and was so appreciated at the Past Presidents Picnic 2 weeks ago. On that occasion Erika and Sam Berg shared a table with Vic and Danna Wiebe, which others joined and the warmth and welcome of Rotary was enjoyed.
(L to R) Erika, Sam, Vic and Danna
FELLOWSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Six appreciated Guests and Visiting Rotarians;
Sergeant-At-Arms Sam Berg used a "pastoral" approach to this task having thoughtfully considered the Sergeants he experienced at Eastview and melding their approaches into a Sam Berg style;
Also his “pastor” response to the question, “What is the amount of a fine or a happy dollar, he said, "Whatever you are able, but it is usually $2.00" - very gentle;
The Sergeant explored the memberships Saskatchewan Roughrider knowledge, largely focusing on last Friday's game.- attendees or game TV watchers were gifted with a Roto-buck;
Those paying attention learned "booing" is not cool and certainly not a good reflection on a Rotarian's "peace" perspective; The Roughriders current record in the 14 games played is that they won 6 and are not in last place; The team has 4 Grey Cup titles to their credit; And Peter Neufeldt knew the Team was earlier known as the Regina Rugby Team;
Happy Dollars came from Peter Peters who reported their Church community, after 6 years of work, were welcoming to Regina, 4 young adults from an Ethiopia refugee camp; Jeff Barber, who is rushing around gathering together important components of the future of the Main Branch of Regina's Public Library Community; Oladayo Ajal shared with us that he and his wife are celebrating their 10th Wedding Anniversary today; Ann Grahame's Granddaughter Georgina, was off to the west coast where she participated in a host of canoeing events and came home with many, many ribbons - grandchildren do bring unmatched joy - for which we are exceedingly thankful;
Wishing you all a wonderful fall week.
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“Let me live, love, and say it well, in good sentences.”
Sylvia Plath
Today's guests
We appreciated the attendance of a wonderful number of guests in addition to Guest Speaker Cat Abenstein. Eghosa & Jana Amadasun joined us, as did Evie Koop Sawatzky, along with visiting Rotarians Doug Keam (RC of Regina) and Bob Durston (RC of Neepawa. Thank you all.
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