President Jackie chaired the meeting.

Guests were welcomed. Sara Young, prime designee for prospective corporate member Newfoundland Credit Union was introduced by Jackie and then Leslie introduced her guest, Stephanie Hedderson.

Jim spoke of Green Shirt Day, April 7^th, and the value of being an organ donor.

This day is in memory of Humboldt Broncos player Logan Boulet, 21, from Lethbridge, Alta.  On April 6, 2018, the Humboldt Broncos team bus crash happened in which of 29 passengers, sixteen lost their lives.

On April 7, 2018, Humboldt Broncos defenceman Logan died and following his death his parents, Bernadine and Toby Boulet offered to donate his organs. Boulet had signed an organ donation card five weeks before the bus crash and was kept on life support while matches were found, resulting in his organs helping six people.  Logan's story inspired 150,000 Canadians to register as organ donors in the weeks following the bus crash, and another 100,000 on the first Green Shirt Day.                                                                                                                                            In honour of Logan's legacy, Green Shirt Day was created to “remember the victims and families of that fatal crash and to create awareness about organ and tissue donation.” This year, the organization has a goal of inspiring 100,000 people to register for organ and tissue donation.     If you have not already signed an organ and tissue donation card, please do so.

Verbon for Program-Chair Chris, introduced the guest speaker Ervin McCurdy who has been on the Bay of Islands SPCA Board since 2016 and is currently Vice-President and acting Secretary. He has worked closely with Jim Kasemets on the New Shelter committee while the building process of the new shelter at 15, Lundrigan Drive proceeded.

The old SPCA shelter was in use from 1979 to 2023 and had needed upgrading for quite a long time. In 2017 the SPCA bought a building on the Northshore highway. This building was sold in 2018 and the SPCA Board looked at existing buildings for a new SPCA shelter. This could be financed by funds already in hand and fundraising. Eventually with the help of the city it was decided to build a shelter on land on Lundrigan Drive. CNA students basically did a proposal on a suitable building. Supplies for the building were purchased in Ontario and they arrived in July 2019.   Engineering work was carried out and significant pipe work was done on the excavated sight with the building being erected at the end of August 2020.

Ervin spoke of the expenses of the Bay of Islands SPCA including vet bills, staff, animal supplies etc. and so fundraising was needed to cover regular expenses and costs to complete the interior of the new shelter. In 2021–22 work was done by volunteers and contractors to finish the interior of the shelter. On December 10, 2022, the SPCA moved officially into the new shelter with the relocating of 25 cats, cages, and supplies.

This year there is still work to be done with the building of vestibules for exterior doors, completion of fences for dog runs and some interior work.  The new shelter is a tremendous improvement on the old shelter for both animals and staff.

Ervin answered several questions before being thanked on behalf of the club by Gerry.

Jackie announced that next week the guest speakers will speak about the work of the Navigate Entrepreneurship Centre, which is supported by the Grenfell Campus and the College of the North Atlantic.

She also reminded Rotarians of the Fundraising meeting to be held on Tuesday, April 11^th at 11.45pm at the Port Office to principally discuss plans for the upcoming on-line auction.

The meeting was adjourned at 1.30pm