Anthem: Peter Masson
Indigenous Land Acknowledgement: President Courtney
Toast to the King, Canada, and Rotary: President Courtney Fisher
Attendance: 14, including 1 guest.
Guests: Dorothy Evans, wife of Basil Dias
Speaker: Danny Cassidy – “The Ukrainian Project.”
Danny was introduced by Mike Mushet.
About a year ago, there was a request from the Rotary Clubs of Warzawa Frydrik Chopin and Warzawa Konstancin. Poland, for help with the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees, primarily women, and children in Poland. Providing a safe place for education and psychological help.
The refugees were accorded all the rights of Polish citizens and were housed in a facility provided by the Local government authority in Comice.
The building, supplied rent-free by a local bank, was equipped with equipment, furniture, office desks, water, heating, nursery staff, etc. The Rotary Clubs of Warsava were able to do all this with the help of support from US Rotary Clubs and were able to establish the “Ukrainian Support and Education Center.” Nearly 10 million refugees are currently in Poland. The Education Center is active, the preschool is open, Psychological and pedagogical support has been made available, and pro bono advice has been provided for the refugees. To date, nearly $ 350,000 has been donated to their cause. Our club, in concert with other clubs together with a global grant, provided $50,000 towards the purchase of a Toyota Wybrany Van to transport people, mainly women, and children, from the border to the Refugee Center in Warsaw. This operation was planned, organized, and executed in concert with the Warsava Clubs by our International Group, which regularly attended meetings every other Sunday with the Warsaw Clubs.
The building, supplied rent-free by a local bank, was equipped with equipment, furniture, office desks, water, heating, nursery staff, etc. The Rotary Clubs of Warsava were able to do all this with the help of support from US Rotary Clubs and were able to establish the “Ukrainian Support and Education Center.” Nearly 10 million refugees are currently in Poland. The Education Center is active, the preschool is open, Psychological and pedagogical support has been made available, and pro bono advice has been provided for the refugees. To date, nearly $ 350,000 has been donated to their cause. Our club, in concert with other clubs together with a global grant, provided $50,000 towards the purchase of a Toyota Wybrany Van to transport people, mainly women, and children, from the border to the Refugee Center in Warsaw. This operation was planned, organized, and executed in concert with the Warsava Clubs by our International Group, which regularly attended meetings every other Sunday with the Warsaw Clubs.
To see and hear the presentation, please click on this link.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ebhpsz72yduz6st/Ukraine%20presentation.mp4?dl=0
This link is to show the work the Rotary Club of Konstancin is doing in addition to this project.
Dave Hardy thanked Danny for his excellent presentation.
Announcements:
- President Courtney explained that The Interact Club has met all the requirements for establishing it in St. Joan of Arc School and requested the approval of the club. It was moved by Dave, seconded by Basil, and received unanimous consent. It will be under the umbrella of the Community Services group and will be run by President Courtney.
- Gordon Brown informed us that Peter Lightfoot is in the hospital in Oshawa and suggested that we all wish him a speedy recovery.
He also told us that the pub night will be held on Thursday, 20th April at Southside and he will send us a circular. He also mentioned that we will not have a pub night for the next 2 months because of the Charter Party and Fireside chat.
- Basil announced that the District Assembly is coming up, and our club should send 6 delegates to attend the event at Centennial College on May 6th.
- Danny mentioned the Rotary walk in September, and he will send a note at a later date.
Sergeant at Arms: Peter collected Happy Bucks from members. Frank and Basil had a great time in Cancun. Saifoo lost his Rotary badge in the Parking lot.
Since there was no other business to discuss, President Courtney ended the meeting. à bientôt
An escalator can never break: it can only become stairs. You should never see an Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order sign, just Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the convenience.
