Chair of the Meeting: President Basil Dias
Anthem: Arthur
Toast to The King, Canada and Rotary: President Basil Dias
Attendance: 13
Janet Thorsteinson – Sew Girls Can Go to SchoolDave Hardy introduced today’s speaker, Janet Thorsteinson, who gave a talk on the Sew Girls Can Go to School program.
The program was started in 2016 by Margaret Jarrest and the project has been running for 26 years.
The goals are to educate the community, provide supplies to fight period poverty, break social barriers, reduce abuse and make sure girls go to school in the Dominican Republic.
The kits initially contained liners and now contain 14.
The number of kits made in the last few years:
2023 – 250 kits
2024 – 350 kits
2025 – 550 kits
The kits are mainly handed out to Haitian sugar cane workers, girls between grade 5 and 8.
Janet and various volunteers visit 10 schools to distribute supplies, support girl students, teachers and other female staff,
Each girl between grade 5 and 8 is provided with 2 kits.
The future goal for Janet is to self sustain the project so that it runs itself.
Tom thanked Janet for her presentation to the club.
Basil announced that the very successful Gala was about to raise just over 17,000.
Gordon sent an email summarizing the following events coming up:
- November 4th - Suresh talking about Sanatan Dharma and Celebration of Diwali.
- November 11th - Remembrance Lunch.
- November 19th - Pub Night at The Mansion on Main.
- November 25th - Induction and classification talk of our newest member Sandra St. Brice.
- December 8th (evening) - Gerd's Birthday at The Royal Coachmen in Waterdown.
- December 11th (evening) Christmas Party at Scarboro Golf Club. We are joining the Scarborough Club there.
- December 16th - Christmas Lunch at Floga's.
- Gordon was SAA and gave a warning that future fines will be given if anyone was not wearing their Rotary pin and badge. He collected the following happy bucks:
- Courtney was happy for the successful Gala
- Suresh was happy Diwali is coming up and want to invite everyone to the November 4th lunch to share in a drink.
- Dave was happy he was with his family at the Gala
- Danny said Ruth was happy she won Dave’s books at the auction
- Arthur was happy he was with his family at the Gala
- Rocco was happy for the Gala
- Janet was happy she gets more from her events than she puts in
- Gordon was happy for his trip to Portugal and happy that pints were only 3 euros each.
- Sandra was happy to be a new member
There being no further business for the good of Rotary, Basil closed the meeting.
