Stories

In 1985 there were three Rotary Clubs in Saskatoon; Saskatoon Rotary Club (1917); Rotary Club of Saskatoon Nutana (1961); and Rotary Club of Saskatoon North (1979).

There was a strong feeling among Rotarians that the growing city could support a new club. It was noted that the three existing clubs all met at noon (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday). An alternate meeting time would be attractive to potential new members.

Rotarians John Egnatoff, Herb Clark and Jack Gibson provided the leadership needed to organize a new club. They held information meetings in January and February of 1985 and held the first executive meeting on March 4,1985. The new Club, to be named Meewasin,was granted provisional status by District Governor Colin Ransom on March 25^th. There were 22 members of the new club which held a Charter Night on May 13, 1985 under the leadership of President Herb Clark. The club met at 7:00 am on Monday mornings in the hotel at the corner of 1^st Ave and 22^nd Street as it does today.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIRST 15 YEARS

The club contributed about $ 90,000 towards community projects in Saskatoon in the first fifteen years. The first community service expenditure was $ 500.00 to support Saskatoon Crime stoppers in 1986.This donation provided seed money for that program in its infancy and the Club continued to support that program for several years.

The Rotary Club of Saskatoon Meewasin has contributed funds to 25 different organizations in this community since '85.

The largest single donation was in 1999 when $ 10,000.00 was given to the Saskatoon Community Services building fund and that amount was equaled in 2001 when the club donated $ 10,000.00 to the Stensrud Lodge Building Fund.

Rotarians from our Club continue to make contributions by delivering meals on wheels, attending the Salvation Army Kettles in December, parking cars, selling beverages at special events and reading to children in schools to enhance literacy just to name a few.

Our Club has spent about $44,000.0 in support of youth services since ‘85. The popular long term student exchange program as well as the short term exchanges are perhaps the best known by the general public. The RYLA summer camps, Adventures in Technology program here in Saskatoon and the Citizenship programs have provided opportunities for young men and women to broaden their experiences and acquire leadership skills.

Our Club has been active in World Community Services contributing about $ 40,000.00 since ‘85 for water well development in Africa and the Philippines and school supplies and buildings and desks in Zimbabwe. We have helped Russia establish new Rotary Clubs through the Group exchange program and our members have led several Group Study Exchanges. Our Club has consistently been a leader in our District in contributing to Rotary International, sending $ 90,000.00 US to the Rotary Foundation and $1 1,000.00 for Polioplus since ‘85.