Meeting Summary

Meeting Summary - February 9, 2015

 

Speaker:               Neil Harris - Lloydminster Men's Shelter & Homes for All  (Lloydminster Social Action Coalition Society- LSACS)

Introduced by:       Rotarian Dick Vokins

Thanked by:          Rotarian Paul DuVal

 

Neil spoke to the membership on the current status of the Lloydminster Men's Shelter and made reference to the following:

LSACS was started in 1998

Early goal was to provide fundraising and awareness for all the homeless

A decision was the made to focus on emergency housing for homeless men

In 2001, the Lloydminster Rotary Club raised $10,000. to put toward a Men's Shelter in Lloydminster

2007 Dr. Eugene Gibney took the lead role, along with a board of directors

2008 the Men's Shelter opened

It is a 28 bed 'dorm style' facility with bunk beds, large washroom/shower, basic kitchen, dining area and office

Annual budget is $460,000

12 fulltime and casual staff

Hours of operation: out at 8:00 a.m. and can return at 5:00 p.m. - operates 7 days a week

Length of stay is 21 days (but this is not long enough and there are extensions)

Daily stats are collected on a national homeless data base and submitted every morning to Alberta Housing in Lloydminster

Main reason is that the clients cannot afford the current rental rates as they are in lower to medium income brackets

Funding is received from Alberta and Saskatchewan but they need more

Have had many generous donations from businesses and individuals in and around the community; could not continue without these generous gifts

Next fundraising event - Coldest Night of the Year - February 21st

 

DREAM VACATION WINNERS FOR JANUARY

 

Vancouver Island Fishing Trip - Andrew Gardner  (ticket sold by Don Whiting)

$100.00 - Joan Bork, Lloydminster  (ticket sold by Wayde Blythe)

$ 50.00 - Rawrie Bullock, Marwayne  (ticket sold by Khurston Bullock)

 

THIS AND THAT

 

International Women's Day Luncheon - March 5th @ The Legacy Centre

Rotary Employment Partnership Program have an extensive list of 'job seekers' ;  Rotarians were asked to provided helpful feedback to the Jill Applegate or Jason Whiting if they had any thoughts and/or suggestions for job expansion from the list provided

Names were put in the hat for draw of those who supported Radio Days; the winner to receive two Lobsterfest Tickets; Lucky person was Dick Vokins

Still looking for volunteers to help with Meals on Wheels; time required is only one hour a week

 

SGT-AT-ARMS - Jason Whiting collected money for coffers while expanding the knowledge of Rotarians about Valentine's Day

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:   'A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats it's weakest members.'  Ghandi

 

Yours in Rotary

Pat