GYRO CLUB OF SHERWOOD PARK

       THE GYRO CLUB OF SHERWOOD PARK

                     50^TH ANNIVERSARY

This is your invitation to our clubs 50^th Anniversary celebration on Thursday, September 25, 2025. This significant celebration will be held at Ernest’s at NAIT, 10701 – 118 Avenue in Edmonton starting at 5:30 PM with socializing and No Host cocktails. A 3 course plated dinner will follow at 6:30 PM with wine being served throughout the meal. This celebration will be no cost to those receiving this email with the exception of the cocktails you choose to have during the evening. 

Please seriously consider attending this once in a life time evening celebrating our 50 years of friendship and RSVP me by August 17, 2025 at:

Yours in Gyro Friendship,

Don    

President Don Grieg

Gyro Club of Sherwood Park

Subject: Gyro Home Care Presentation – April 3^rd, 2025

This is a summary of the Home Care presentation given at our April 5, 2025, Gyro meeting.  Given my experience and that of other Gyros and Gyrettes, this is an important and timely subject for all Gyros and Gyrettes as well as family members and friends. 

1. As noted at the meeting, some 900,000 Albertans are currently involved in providing home care services in Alberta.  Last year, AHS (Alberta Health Services) provided home care services to over 118,000 Albertans, with 10,000 receiving care services in their homes and communities.  The system employs 113,000 staff members, including 8,700 physicians, 6,800 healthcare aides, and benefits from the services of 14,300 volunteers.  In 2017–18, funding for home care and community care services in Alberta exceeded $2 billion. 

2. A growing concern as the Alberta population ages, is that the number of people requiring healthcare services, could exceed the number of community healthcare spaces available within the province.  Therefore, a substantial number of older adults will need, and will want, to receive home care.  Consequently, home care providers must be knowledgeable and capable of delivering a wide range of challenging and essential healthcare services.  As many home care providers do not have the required knowledge and skills, a considerable number of them suffer from stress and, in some cases, put their loved ones at risk.

3. As Judy Talen of Home Instead pointed out, receiving home care service can be done on a private basis or with the assistance of AHS.  If AHS is involved, they will appoint a Case Manager, who will visit the home to provide an assessment.  Based on this assessment, AHS will provide and pay for home care services as needed.  Alternatively, home care services can be supplied on a combination basis, in which the caregiver can choose a professional home care company to assist in the provision of home care services.  In this scenario, the home care provider and AHS will share in the costs related to home care service.

4. It is not by accident that Home Instead is the world’s largest home care company.  My personal experience was that they are professional in every aspect of home care.  Not only did they provide professional home care services, but they also helped train the at-home caregivers in the skills required to achieve the desired level of home care service.  As I mentioned, the caregivers at Home Instead showed such compassion and care that they became friends of the family.

5. One of the challenges identified by Judy Talen was that many home care givers were unfamiliar with the availability of financial services and tax deductions related to home care services.  Therefore, Sarah Wohlgemuth of the World Financial Group was invited to provide information on the financial and tax services available to homecare providers.  Such benefits can be substantial and beneficial to home care providers.  Information on this subject is not readily accessible.

In summary, based on my experience and that of other Gyros and Gyrettes, it is essential to be aware of and knowledgeable in providing home care services.  There are many sources of help and information on the internet, and if you need assistance, AHS is a good place to start.  Additionally, seeking the advice of a home care company, such as Home Instead, will provide invaluable information and advice.

Thank you, Al Bleiken and Lawrence Zalasky

Hello Gyro,

I hope this message finds you well. In the midst of life’s hustle and bustle, I inadvertently missed the opportunity to update our membership on the important work of the Reorganization Implementation Committee. My apologies for the delay. This initiative is a crucial step forward for Gyro, and the committee remains committed to transparency as we shape the organization’s future.

Update on the Gyro Restructuring Plan

At the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM), members overwhelmingly approved the Gyro Restructuring Plan, setting the stage for a two-year implementation process. Since then, significant progress has been made:

• A dedicated implementation committee, composed of volunteers and district representatives, was formed to oversee the process.
• Immediate Past International President Dan Durbin and Past International President Alan Pentney are co-chairing the committee.
• District Representatives include:
  • District I: Larry Finefrock and JD Dawson
  • District II: Terry Moehr
  • District III: Dick Parnell and Dan Bliss
  • District IV: Colm Foy
  • District VI: Mike Jenkins
  • District VII: Greg Alexander
  • District VIII: Don Grieg
  • District IX: Tim Cameron and Larry Duba
  • District X: Pete Stocker
• The committee has been meeting regularly to revise the constitution and bylaws in alignment with the new structure.

 Key Updates

The following changes are being finalized:

• Replacing “Districts” with “Regions.”
• Renaming the title of “Governor” to “Regional Director.”
• Modifying the Executive Council (EC) structure to include the new Regional Director role.
• Clarifying roles and responsibilities within the new framework.
• Merging the current district structure into a regional model.

 New Regional Structure

The current districts will transition into three regions to better balance club representation:

• Region 1: Districts 1, 3, 6, and 10
• Region 2: Districts 2, 7, 8
• Region 3: Districts 4 and 9

 Next Steps

• The revised constitution and bylaws will be submitted to the Executive Council and Board of Governors (EC/BoG) for approval.
• Once approved, official notifications will be sent to all members 45 days before the 2025 AGM in June.
• Each region will begin identifying candidates for the new Regional Director positions, with a nomination process led by a group of Past District Governors (PDGs). Regional Director roles will take effect during officer installations at the 2026 AGM.

 What This Means for Clubs

While structural changes are underway, local club activities will remain unchanged. Clubs should continue their traditions—hosting social events, golf tournaments, and gatherings that reinforce Gyro’s core values of friendship and fellowship. Gyro International will continue to schedule the AGM and Convention annually, with the regions alternating as host.

We appreciate your continued support and engagement as we move forward with these exciting developments. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or feedback.

Best regards,
Daniel Durbin
IPIP, Chair, Implementation Committee

I wanted send out a message this morning to everyone connected to the Sherwood Park Gyro Club thanking them for welcoming me into your club last night with an Honorary Membership!  What a wonderful early Christmas present that was.

Over the last couple of years, your club executive has been very generous with inviting me to many of your meetings and events in my capacity of Lt Governor for D8, District Governor and now in my role as 2nd VP of Gyro International.  I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know your members and having so much fun and making friends at your club’s events.  I will find a prominent place in my home for the lovely framed certificate I was presented last night at your Christmas party.

All the best to everyone over the upcoming holiday season. I look forward to enjoying many more meetings and social outings with the Sherwood Park Gyros.

Yours in Gyro Friendship,

Dunc Mills

Greetings Fellow Gyros

This is a reminder that Sherwood Park and Edmonton Gyro Clubs (District 8) invite you to the 2025 Gyro International Convention to be held June 3 to June 10, 2025.

The convention will be held in conjunction with an Alaska Cruise 7-Day Inside Passage (Roundtrip Vancouver, Canada).

As this is a 7-day cruise including all meals and associated costs, there will be no convention registration fee.

For more information, please use the following link:  Cruise Details – 7-Day Inside Passage (Roundtrip Vancouver) – Princess Cruises

Our travel agent has secured fixed pricing for the Oceanview and Balcony cabins until December 5, 2024.  However, this does not guarantee cabin availability, and cabins are booking quickly.  If you intend to attend the cruise, I suggest that you book your cabin as soon as you can.  Please book through the travel agent as we get points for each cabin sold which can be used for a Welcome Reception or private dining room for the President’s Dinner

For more info or to book contact:

Terra Travel 2007 Inc. Established in 1979

Summer Office hours April 1-September 30, 2024:  Monday-Friday 8AM – 4PM MST

Call Kelly Bergquist at (780) 477-1977 or Email  

Yours in Gyro Friendship

Ted Ewanchuk

District 8 Governor

 Don Greig presented the full slate of candidates for the vacant positions. For the position of Vice President, Art Merrick was nominated, seconded by Sid Slade, and accepted his nomination. Further nominations were called for and none were forthcoming. Art was declared elected by acclamation. Don Greg(existing V.P. ) willingly accepted the position of President as nominated by Bill Austin and endorsed by all attending. Two Directors will continue in their role as second year Directors, they are Ted Ewanchuk and Sid Slade. There were two candidates put forward for the position of 2 year Director. Blair Gallant was nominated and accepted his nomination in absents, Lawrence Zalasky was nominated and accepted his nomination. Other nominations were called for three times. Receiving no further nominations Blair and Lawrence were declared elected for the vacant positions of Director. For the position of Treasurer Ted Ewanchuk was appointed and accepted. Secretary (Ray Davis) was appointed and accepted the position.

For the 2024-25 Gyro year the Board of the Club is as follows: President: Don Greig, Vice President: Art Merrick, Past President: Nestor Slipchuk, 2Year Directors: Blair Gallant and Lawrence Zalasky, 1Year Directors: Sid Slade and Ted Ewanchuk, Treasurer: Ted Ewanchuk, Secretary: Ray Davis, Bulletin Editor: Scott Brisbin.

Congratulations to Al Gordon the winner of the Gyro Hockey Pool, 44 points ahead of second place finisher Ray Davis (who was 16 points ahead of the next person) from our club also. Thanks to Alan Pentney for running the pool it was lots of fun to follow along with the NHL.