The meeting was opened at noon sharp by President Rob Rakochey. Today’s Indigenous topic included the Indigenous names for various roads in Canada. For example, Shaganappi is a cord made of rawhide. The Cree word means to shred in a circle and the Algonquian word means a flayed cord or rawhide lacing.  Other road names that were discussed include Crowfoot Trail, Yellowhead Trail in Edmonton, and Spadina Avenue in Toronto. This was followed by the singing of our National Anthem.

Deb McMillan introduced our guests including our guest speaker Gerry Darichuk from Calgary North, Keith Wellon and Anne Dale from Calgary Chinook and Kathryn Klassen guest of Joe Klassen. Iryna Goulet arrived late, guest of Gerry Darichuk.  We were granted an additional five minutes of social time as we ate our lunch. Gerry had a full program to present.

President Rob introduced our guest speaker, Gerry Darichuk. Rob and Gerry have known each other since Gerry joined Calgary North in 1991. Rob labels Gerry as a serial businessman having worked in the agriculture industry and plastics manufacturing for film and injection moulding. This business has been passed onto his sons. Gerry has spearheaded both international projects and local projects which include the building of a hospital in Turkey after it was demolished by an earthquake and starting Rotary Challenger Park. Gerry is here to tell us about a recent trip he made to Ukraine.

Prior to this trip Gerry and his wife made several historical trips sponsored by U of A and U of S. Gerry had many tales of his trip to Ukraine. He was travelling with eight oversized boxes filled with medical supplies – tourniquets for the makeshift hospitals on the front lines. His guest, Iryna, is President of the Ukrainians of Calgary Association. Here is a link for a fundraiser of classical music coming up on Friday night. https://www.uoca.ca/events/upcoming-events

She was instrumental in securing safe passage for Gerry and his entourage and the four hundred pounds of medical supplies they were carrying. He met others giving of their time to help - four doctors from Brazil were returning home for Christmas after being on the front lines. A mother helping to make camouflage for the soldiers. She told Gerry this war has been going on for ten years not just the past two. Rotary is a huge player in supplying aid. Once they knew this group was Canadian and had urgently needed medical supplies, they were pushed to the front of a four mile long line up waiting to cross the border.

Gerry was accompanied by a retired military commander who helped with connections to the military and acted as a translator. He tells us he had no intention of taking the supplies all the way to the front lines. When the opportunity presented itself, he took it. A small world – in Ukraine Gerry reconnected with Mykola Steblianko who was in Calgary 22 years ago participating in New Generations Service Exchange (NGSE) and residing at President’s Rob’s house. Dan and Marlene will connect with Mykola’s wife, Olga, an enormously powerful lady in Ukraine who is looking to help where and how she can. Gerry shows us graveyards of metals and graveyards of shells. One knows there are graveyards of bodies.  

All iPhones were confiscated east of Kyiv. Gerry’s wife knew something was up when Gerry had not called home for five days! The devastation is everywhere pictures of remnants of the ongoing war. Picture taking became sensitive and was not allowed although Gerry was able to request some. At the drone control center the drones are being monitored and controlled. All along the lines it is a no win job and takes a toll both physically and mentally.  

Once at the front lines, Gerry meets the senior military officer in charge of medics. This triage center was set up in a barn house not the “MASH” tents. The tourniquets are critical to stop the bleeding fast with the hope of saving a limb before the solider is transferred to hospital. Many are helping where they can. Swiss Rotarians look for children to rescue who have lost their parents in the war.

President Rob thanked our speaker and presented Gerry with a $2,000 cheque from Calgary West for Ukraine Medical Rehabilitation Equipment.  

President Rob invites as many as can make it out to the Spring AGM on April 15 at 6 pm at Pannenkoek Haus. No lunch meeting that day. Please register and have your voice heard.

Deb McMillan reminds us of the tour of Hydragreens on March 15 at 10 am. Lunch destination TBD

Judy Cochran is looking for a few more volunteers to help out at the new Crisis Nursery in Montgomery on Tuesday March 26 from 1-3 pm. We will be making up the beds with the new bedding funded by our Club. If you can help out call Judy.

Rotary Adventures in Human Rights (RAHR). We are looking for one student to go to Winnipeg August 11-17. Registration fees, airfare and accommodation costs are covered. RCCW partners with RC of Olds. The students should be interested in many controversial topics including equality, racism, genocide and more. The student must be entering Grade 11 or Grade 12 this September. Contact Judy or anyone on the Youth Committee.

Finally, don’t miss next Monday’s meeting on March 18. It is our third annual   4 Way Test Speech Competition. The students really do a remarkable job.

Marlene Doherty urges us to put forth names of those individuals that you feel deserves a Paul Harris Fellow. They would be making a difference locally or internationally and creating hope. Deadline for nominations is March 30. Contact any member of the Foundation Committee.

Magnetic pins were shipped out today. Please let Marlene if you would like to purchase one. Cost is $9 and there are eight left.

Thai Dinner is coming up on March 16 and there are still two open spots. Contact Sue Newton.

President Rob ended the meeting with his joke – this one was about being old – many of us can relate and saw the humour.

The meeting was adjourned at 1 pm with our 4 Way Test jingle.